Elder Ripley's Hump Day!

This is Elder David Ashton Ripley my nephew.

Today is Ashton's hump day. Hump day is what the Missionaries
call the half way mark. Tradition has it that they burn a tie.

Elder Ripley is serving his mission in the Londrina, Brazil Mission.

For those of you who aren't sure who this is,

he is Angie's oldest son. Ashton is pictured on the left.

So congratulations on your first year Elder Ashton Ripley!

One down and one to go. We send them away as boys

and they come back as men. I sure love this Elder!

One More Time!

Because we are the "Party People" that we are?? (Not!)

We had to celebrate Reagan's birthday one more time,

you know, on the actual day. (Feb. 26)

We went to Tokyo Joe's last night.

The girls were very entertained and impressed with the

chef's culinary skills. Good idea, Christon!

Party Go-ers were the birthday girl herself,

Miss Reagan Kendall Griffis and her loving sister, Miss Shelby Bailey

Griffis. Auntie Emmy, Popi and Gamma Smith.

Uncle Trav and Auntie Jor Jor

Pop Pop and Gigi and of course her loving parents,

Christon and Harrison. A fun good time was had by all!!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY REAGAN!

Reagan had her first Birthday Party on Saturday!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures!

Empty Seat!?! / Rest of the Story

See the empty seat, it could have been mine!?!

Echo and Amanda went to see Michael Buble' last night. I know it was an awesome concert. It just had to be. I think Michael Buble' is all that and more too!

I kid you not, as I was reading Echo's blog and saw how much fun they were having as friends and sister in laws, my heart was filling up with sweet emotion. Then when I saw the picture of the empty seat, I nearly choked, I really did shed a tear! I just couldn't believe it, I really could have been there to share it with the both of them! So much for missed opportunities. Glad yall had such a great time. Thanks for thinking of me.

THE REST OF THE STORY

So I had just posted my blog for today when the door bell rings! When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but AMANDA and eight tiny reindeer, NO, NO wrong story! But yes it was Amanda and she came bearing gifts. Well one gift!!!!! Check out next picture. If your eye sight is as bad as mine sometimes and you can't tell by the picture, it's a Michael Buble Bag! She bought me a souvenir!! Black and white my favorite colors! Can you believe it?! Then I got the play by play dramatic account of the whole evening! It was great and it made me even more envious of their night with the young crooner. As if that wasn't enough to make my whole morning!! she sat down at my computer and put this wonderful music on my blog for me! I can't thank her enough, but I'll keep trying!

Thank you!

We need to thank you again Tara for getting all this started! It is so nice to see how this bloggin can really bring familes together and help us stay in touch in this busy world. You've inspired so many with your positive excitement to join you in bloggin! I can only take credit for encouraging Amanda and she is so cute and you both have taught me so many things. So thanks again and have a great weekend! You deserve it.

I have always loved this picture of you and Ben. I think it is one of your dateing pictures. You make such a cute couple! Cute parents! You make such cute kids! And really enjoy life!

Comparison #3

Harrison

Shelby

FINALLY they start!!

Rocking Chair

This is the rocking chair that Harry bought me when I was expecting Harrison. I guess since he will be 29 years old next month, I have had the chair 29 years. I've been looking through old pictures a lot lately and I found that I had a picture of both boys standing in that rocking chair. So I decided to take pictures of the girls in the same chair. The picture of Harrison says Sept. 1981 he was 2 1/2 years old. Trav's picture says, Feb. 1985 he would have been 3 1/2 years old. Shelby turned 3 in Jan. and Reagan will be 1 next Tuesday Feb. 26th.

Proof

Proof

Here is proof positive that Harry did kill that 7 point deer on the first day of black powder gun season back in September. He used a 50 caliber muzzle loader. Black powder apparently smokes so bad and the deer ran and they couldn't find where he dropped. But here it is and now there is proof! Travis finally came across it yesterday about 75 yards from where Harry shot it. Travis brought it by the house last night when he got in from working the deer food plots in Darien and said "here, blog this!" Okay, but you take the picture and I handed him my camera. Then I made him take it with him when he left. They are going to hang it at Griffis Steel, where all the other dead animals they brag about now hang. Better there, than here.

Cheap Entertainment Turn Near Disaster!

As we turned into the parking lot of the "Dollar Store" today Shelby saw a flock of Sea Gulls, she said "those birds look hungry! we need to feed them." (We've fed the birds many times) So I told her that we would feed them after we went to the store. In side the store we got our usual balloons, some "way cute flip flops" for Shelby, several other unnecessary things and a loaf of bread for the birds. You can have so much fun for $1.00, feeding hungry birds!?! By the time we drove to the corner of the parking lot, Shelby had already taken off her shoes and socks. She meant she was wearing those "way cute flip flops." I got Reagan out of the car and put her in the stroller. Helped Shelby with the "way cute flip flops" and got my camera and the loaf of bread. We were having such a great time until disaster struck!! A half a piece of bread fell at Shelby's feet. She kicked the bread closer to the birds and as she did she kicked her "way cute flip flop" up into the air and a sea gull swooped down and picked it up. It got half way up into the air and realized it wasn't food and dropped it. Just in time for another bird to swoop down and grab it. He finally dropped it about a foot from the water. (Saved me from a little February swim!) Now picture Shelby, she is in total shock, so distraught about her "way cute flip flop" and the crazy bird that stole it, she's screaming "bring it back!" and I'm laughing so hard and trying to run under the birds just praying it will drop "said flip flop" on dry ground and not in the water and not poop on my head!! Needless to say Shelby was done! and scared from that point on, good thing we were down to the last 3 pieces of bread, which she threw as she was holding on to my leg. When we were through, she asked me was her bow still on her head? I guess she thought maybe one of the birds had pecked it off her head since they did carry away a flip flop. What an adventure!!! Pictures included for prove we were feeding said "hungry birds!"

Pouting, bird feeding, bow wearing,

3 year old in "way cute flip flops!"
*As a side note, I didn't think that the flip flops were all that cute??

But the child is such a drama queen, when she saw them she said "these are soooo cute!!! do we have money for these??" So of course they end up in the cart.

Comparison #2

This is Reagan, she will be a year old next Tuesday! The child in the red stripe shirt is her daddy Harrison, the one in green is Uncle Trav. All the pictures were taken when each was around a year old. I think that they all favor alot.

Red Velvet Cake

I made a Red Velvet Cake for our Ward Valentine Party last night. I usually make these cakes at Christmas time and give them as gifts. But they make a pretty Valentine cake also. I'm sharing the recipe with all those who would like it. Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cake

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups oil (Wesson)

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups cake flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 bottle red food coloring

Mix in order of ingredients.

Bake at 350* for 25 or 30 mins.

until it passes the toothpick or fork test.

Cream Cheese Icing

1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)

1 8oz. block of cream cheese

3 or more cups of powdered sugar

1-1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Blend butter and cream cheese until creamy.

Start adding sugar and a drop or two of milk

untilyou get the right consistency.

Then blend in the nuts and ice completely cooled cake.

Comparison

Harrison 4 yrs old and Shelby 3 years old.

Surprise Visitors!

(Picture of Surprise visitors, Eli and Max. Taken a few years ago.)

This afternoon we had a short visit from 3/5's of the Savannah Crenshaw's. Sheri, Eli and Max stopped by on their way to Florida. They were delivering Valentine's from Aunt Jill! (Thank you Aunt Sheri) Aunt Jill had sent them back with Sheri when she was out to S.L.C. for her sisters wedding in Jan. So thank you Aunt Jill, Shelby loved her bracelets! SEE!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I had this clever Idea to try and take some Valentine's Day pictures of the girls as a surpirse for Christon. As you can tell from the slide-show it proved to be more difficult than I imagined! I took over a 100 pictures to come up with just a few good ones. Well any way, Happy Valentine's Day, yall!

Charles Martin

I was invited to joined one of those R/S book clubs with the other Ward. The first book I read was "The Dead Don't Dance" by Charles Martin. It was wonderful! I've since read the sequel, "Maggie" and all the rest of his books. My favorite, if I had to choose one was, "When Crickets Cry." The April 2006 Edition of Southern Living chose Crickets as their “Read of the Month.” The book "Chasing Fireflies" is based in Brunswick. Charles is from Jacksonville, Fl. I went to a book signing he did and had him sign all 5 of my books. His next book will be out this summer. I can't wait!

Carla and Harrison

I love this picture, I always have.

This is my sister Carla holding my first born, Harrison. Harrison was about 15 months old in this picture. I have one of Angie also holding Harrison, taken on the same day. It's a great picture too. I can't find it. When I do, I'll post it. Harrison was such a cute little boy. I've always loved Carla's perfect smile and teeth. I just love this picture!

My Friend Molly

I got my shirt!! I'm ready for Valentine's Day! MK stands for Molly Keeney. Molly was diagnosed with Leukemia on Oct. 15, 2007. Molly turned 16 on Dec. 4. She has been in the fight of her life. Including being in a comma for over 3 weeks. She has been in the hospital since Dec. 17. One of her friends at school started this t-shirt thing and all the profits go to Molly's hospital bills. Kids and teachers at her high school, former middle school and grammar school will be wearing their shirts in honor of Molly on Valentine's Day. I'll be wearing mine too.

I GOT A CALL FROM ELLA THIS AFTERNOON AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED! MOLLY GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL TODAY!!!

Guess where we've been????

No, not the Atlanta Braves Stadium!

Does the next picture give you any clues?

That's Shamu just in case you couldn't tell. We went to Sea World yesterday! Christon invited us to go, I don't think she really thought we would, but we did! It was a perfect weekend to go. The weather was great. If you've ever thought about going? Go in Dec., Jan. or Feb. It wasn't to hot and it wasn't to cold. It was about 72* There was not really a very big crowd either. No waiting and no lines. Just my kind of day at Sea World. Here are a few of my favorite pictures.